Chapter Two
Icut through the public garden at the top of the hill as I made my way home, the views were outstanding up there. I could see the entire village from this spot and right out to the Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse still brought a pang of sadness, even after all those years.
Losing Ethan so young to cancer was a devastating blow, and the fact that I'd been sent away made it doubly heartbreaking.
I couldn't help but wonder what Ethan would look like today if he were still alive, and if we would have found our way back to each other and still been together.
I liked to imagine we would've been one of those disgustingly cute couples, like Simon and Rhys were.
I thought of the Tennyson poem ‘A farewell’ as I walked through the garden.
It spoke of the fleeting nature of human life and taking solace in the time we have with a person.
The road leading to my parents’ house was to the right.
I only returned to my parents’ home when I absolutely had to.
My decree to never return was squashed when they paid for my University fees.
It was not my proudest moment taking their money, but it enabled me to become a doctor.
The not-very-nice side of me hoped that they had died and their spoiled old corgis were now feasting on their corpses. That Anne and I would finally be free of their constant harping and manipulations.
Entering the Rose garden, I could see the roof of my surgery and the lane that led to the High Street from this vantage point. Glancing at my watch, I saw it was only a little past seven and most of the town not heading to work would be tucked in bed enjoying a Saturday morning sleep-in.
I wanted my bed so badly. I was dead on my feet and, in hindsight, walking to work had seemed like a healthy proactive thing, but now at the end of a twelve-hour shift, I was regretting my choice.
I walked through the gate onto Shipwrights Lane for only a few more minutes, and I could sprawl out in bed. I was trying to remember if I had any crumpets left in the fridge. If I didn't eat something before I crawled under the covers, I'd sleep like shit.
With thoughts of bramble jam and butter-covered crumpets, I jogged the last bit home. I passed my sister's small cottage and waved at my nephew who was peering out his bedroom window. Ben gave me a huge grin and waved like he'd promised me he would yesterday when I'd had lunch with them.
A little further down the street, I could smell the fresh bread from Daisy's bakery and decided that the crumpets could wait for another day.
I was going to treat myself to a couple of Daisy's delicious Danishes.
I preached healthy eating to my patients, but I also preached moderation.
Treating oneself was not to be sneered at, and right then, I was going to treat myself to an apricot and apple Danish respectively.
Thankfully the store was quiet. I was able to grab my Danishes and be on my way home without having to wait too long. My cottage came into view not long after.
I was just about to take a bite of my treat when my phone rang, and I was a little shocked to see it was Mouse calling. What in the devil was the man doing up this early on a weekend?
“Morning Cully Wally,” Mouse sang down the phone. I clumsily rested my phone against my shoulder while I juggled my Danishes and house keys. The door thankfully clicked open, and Tennyson let out a scolding mewl as I stepped through the door.
“Morning Mouse, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Tennyson wove around my legs like a tiny shadow and followed me inside.
“I was just wanting to check and see if you were coming to the club tonight?”
“Well, I'm not going to miss Cal demonstrating Florentine on you, am I?” Mouse giggled, and I had to marvel at the change in him over the last few months. Oh, there were still shadows that clung to Mouse, but we were all seeing the positive changes being with Cal had brought.
“I’m so excited. He's promised me this for ages, and I was so worried the stupid flu would get in the way, but I'm feeling heaps better, and I promised Cal I would stay indoors all day and take my medicine.” Mouse barely stopped for a breath before he was off again, “I've been so freaking good all month. I haven’t yelled at a client once or called Mr Dutton a Wanky Womble.” Mouse lowered his voice a little, “Okay, I might have when he gave Alice a time out for arguing with him, but that’s between you and me.”
I nodded even though Mouse couldn't see me. I was pleased that he considered me a good enough friend to let me know his slight infraction.
“Don't worry, I won't blab to Cal. Us brats need to stick together.” I answered as I flicked the coffee machine on and waited for it to heat up.
“Having Daddy look after me made me get well quicker. Mind you, I was almost tempted to play sick a bit longer because the head rubs and soup was awesome.”
“I can see the appeal, but why are you up so early?” I poured some kibble into Tennyson's bowl and a dash of his kitten milk into the China saucer he'd claimed as his own.
“Don't laugh, but I like making Cal and Alice something special for breakfast on Saturday mornings. It's the one time the three of us aren't rushing about. Besides, it gives me a chance to make my chocolate chip pancakes.” Those pancakes were good. My stomach growled at the memory.
“Well, put your mind at ease Mouse, I will be there. But right now, I need my bed. I've been on my feet for twelve hours, and I need to sleep,” I said.
“I'll let you crash, and I'll see you tonight.”
I finished feeding Tennyson, then made a coffee.
I never suffered the problem of caffeine keeping me awake.
In fact, I found it did the opposite for me in times like this.
It could be the ritual of making the coffee or just sitting and enjoying drinking it while I looked out through my back window at the bay.
I just needed to shower and find Leo, and I would be ready to sleep.
I bit into the Danish, and my mouth felt like it was in heaven.
I was so intent on focusing on this small pleasure, I didn't notice the phone until it had rung a second time. It was tempting to ignore the call, but I saw Roman’s name on the screen and had to answer.
As the club's unofficial doctor, I never knew when they might need me.
“Impeccable timing as usual, Sir.” I said with my mouth half full.
“Am I interrupting something?” Roman answered in his deep voice, sounding amused.
“Well, if you mean a date with my bed and a solid eight hours of sleep, then yes.” I muttered, eyeing the rest of my Danish.
I was tempted to shove it in my mouth but knowing Roman the way I did, the bastard would probably choose then to ask me a question.
The man had a knack for catching me out.
Funnily enough, most of my friends could, because half of them were daddies and the other half were littles and subs.
“I don't want to keep you long, but I have a favour to ask. One I wouldn't normally ask knowing the animosity that exists between you and Perry.” My ears perked up.
Oh? What was this?
“I'm all ears. Why does the mighty Master Peregrine need help?” I picked up my half-eaten Danish and nibbled at it.
“Behave, Cullen.” Roman gently admonished.
“Yes, Sir,” I said automatically. While I prided myself on being a strong-minded sub and a cheeky brat when given the chance, I never disrespected a Dom. Well, not unless they were total dicks and, thankfully, I'd only had a few dealings with men like that.
“You know how we have two displays for the event tonight.”
“Yes. I had Mouse calling this morning making sure I was going. He's excited about the demonstration.” I stretched my legs out, and Tennyson hopped up on them like his own private ramp.
“We all are. It's been a while since Cal's shown his prowess with his floggers and to watch him give a Florentine demonstration…I'm really looking forward to the High Protocol demonstration.” I said rubbing Tennyson’s ears.
“Yes, I knew you would be. That's why I thought of you first. It seems that the Master giving the demonstration might have to pull out of the event as his usual sub is unable to attend tonight.”
“Oh no, that’s a shame. We really don't do enough demos or talks about High Protocol and TPE.”
“My thoughts too.” Roman answered, pausing for a moment.
“Which is why I suggested you to the Master as a replacement. I know it's been a while since you did a scene like that, which was the other reason I suggested your name. I think it would do you good.” There was something in Roman’s voice, something that suggested he wasn't telling me the whole truth.
“You know I'm more than happy to lend a hand especially when it's a kink I'm pretty hardcore into, but I need to know who the Master is.”
“Ah.”
My subby senses tingled “What does ‘Ah’ mean, Sir?”
“You have to promise not to overreact and think about what I'm asking, Cullen.” I sighed internally. Roman was using the tone that Doms and daddies worldwide used when they meant business.
“This sounds ominous.”
“Not at all. The Master in question is Perry. He usually has Anthony act as his sub for these demos, but Ant has moved to Glasgow with his husband and can't make it down in time. I know things between you and Perry are a bit tense.”
“Understatement of the year,” I muttered softly into my coffee.
“But I'm hoping that you would at least be willing to help him out with the demo. High Protocol is one of your core kinks, and you were only complaining to us the other week that it’s been months since you've been able to enjoy a session.”
I scowled. Of course Roman would remember that conversation. The man remembers everything.
“True.” I conceded and picked up my mug, only to see I'd finished the remains of my coffee.
“And you have to admit you and Perry would make an amazing pair in a scene.” Roman was digging now, but I let the image play out in my head to how it would look.
There was no denying that Perry was a handsome man with an almost angelic quality to his looks.
If he wasn't such a prissy posh snob, I probably would have dropped to my knees for the man in an instant.
But, as it was, I always felt like he was judging me.
The sensible thing would be to decline and ask Roman to find some other sub, but I was itching for a good scene and, begrudgingly, I knew Perry was an excellent Dom regardless of my feelings about him. Would I be cutting my nose off to spite my face if I told Roman no?
“What kind of scene are we talking about?” I asked before I could think better of it.
“Poses mostly. Perry is going to also talk about TPE dynamics.”
“So, kneeling and looking pretty is what you want me to do.” I smiled despite my reservations.
“Exactly. And we both know your poses are impeccable. So, what do you say? Help us out? I'll even make sure there’s a batch of Marco's shortbread cookies waiting for you.” Oh, that was playing dirty. I was a sucker for any biscuit-related bribery.
“Okay, fine, I'll do it. But you are going to owe me. Now, if you don't mind, I really do need to get some sleep.”
“Thank you, Cullen. Get to the club early so you and Perry can discuss the scene. It's nothing too complex, but I know what perfectionists you both can be.”
Pfft, I wasn't the crazed perfectionist between Perry and I, but I wasn’t going to start that argument; bed was calling me like a perfect soft siren song.
“Not a problem. This should be at least interesting,” I muttered, ignoring Roman’s chuckle as I hung up from the call.
Leo was not where I had left him. Tennyson mewled behind me looking smug. “Did you steal Leo?” I asked him.
I looked towards the foot of my bed where Tennyson's fancy cat cushion lay.
Lo and behold, my battered old stuffed lion was there, covered in a pair of my boxers that I must have thrown there that morning.
I threw the boxers into the corner with the rest of the washing I would get to at some point, possibly when I'd run out of clean clothes.
I gently bopped Tennyson's little nose. “My bear.” Tennyson’s meow seemed to say ‘well that's all good and proper, but when you’re not home all bets are off’. My cat was the perfect brat like me, I could say.
I checked my room; the sunblock drapes had been pulled fast, and I had set my alarm for 4pm. That would give me plenty of time to eat and get showered and off to the club.
I pulled out my Judge Dred comic to read but my eyes were feeling heavy. Rolling over, I carefully placed my comic on my bedside table. I'd ruined one too many comics by falling asleep with them in bed and crushing them.
My chin was gently knocked as Tennyson wiggled his tiny body between my chin and chest. “I thought we talked about this.”
Tennyson made a soft chirping meow and headbutted my chin again as if to tell me to shut up.
“Okay fine, you furry rascal. Even though you have a luxurious bed of your own but, for whatever reason, my chest seems to be the place to sleep.”
I blinked sleepily and stroked Ten's soft fur, his warm body and soft purr lulling me to sleep.